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MINING SITES
Lithium is the lifeblood of the global energy transition , playing a crucial role in the production of batteries for electric vehicles ( EVs ). Although demand has temporarily tailed-off , as EV adoption has stalled , over the long-term the mining industry faces the challenge of scaling a lithium production to meet global needs , but in a sustainable fashion .
The process of extracting lithium varies depending on its source . In brine deposits , lithium-rich saltwater is pumped into a series of evaporation ponds . As the water evaporates , the resulting concentrate is processed into lithium carbonate or lithium hydroxide , key components in battery manufacturing .
For hard-rock deposits , the ore is mined through traditional methods , then crushed and processed to extract the lithium . This method , while more energy-intensive , can often produce higher-grade lithium more quickly than brine extraction .
Explaining just how vast demand will be for lithium is Brian Menell , a South African businessman with interests in mining , agriculture , and banking . Brian is CEO and Chairman of TechMet , an investment company with stakes in lithium extraction and processing businesses .
He says : “ Tesla ’ s target of producing 20 million electric vehicles a year by 2030 would require almost seven times the present total global annual supply of lithium . That ’ s before considering GM , Ford , VW or Chinese manufacturers , who will continue to produce two-thirds
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